[OMS_MANAGERS] Awards Reminder + Grant Info

Tue Jul 5 10:35:07 PDT 2016

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1.      Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Awards: Oregon Main Street, part of Oregon Heritage, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, invites you to submit nominations for outstanding achievements in comprehensive downtown revitalization efforts. The Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Awards will be presented at a special celebration on September 15, 2016, in Astoria in conjunction with our 2-day workshop focused on formulating a strategy for building renovation projects in preparation for applying for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant program.    The Awards Ceremony and Dinner will send everyone home from this special event energized and with new inspiration. Some will carry an Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Award home! This might be your community - but only if you get your nominations in by the deadline - July 18, 2016.The award nominations are an opportunity for you to honor the people, the projects, and the activities that are outstanding achievements in your community. Attached is a copy of the Award packet, including nomination information, award application, and submittal information. For additional information, please contact Sheri Stuart, sheri.stuart at oregon.gov<mailto:sheri.stuart at oregon.gov>

2.      Grant Opportunities - I just received these notifications from HUD. I don't know too much about them but forwarded the info in case there is interest.

*        USDA has set a July 22nd deadline to submit applications for an anticipated 25 grants under its Rural Community Development Initiative<https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-05-23/pdf/2016-12070.pdf>.  The Initiative awards grants" of between $50,000 & $250,000 "to "intermediary organizations that will provide financial and technical assistance to recipients to develop their capacity and ability to undertake projects related to housing, community facilities, or community and economic development that will support the community." Winners are expected to provide a local match equivalent at least to the amount awarded by USDA.  Eligible applicants include state, local & tribal governments, non- and for-profit organizations, public housing authorities, special districts & institutions of higher education.  USDA expects to award $4 million under the Initiative this year.

*        The Environmental Protection Agency has set August 10th as the deadline to apply for a total of $4 million in Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Grants<https://www.epa.gov/grants/fy2017-brownfields-area-wide-planning-grant>. The program supports communities in developing "area-wide plan for brownfields assessment, cleanup and subsequent reuse" that are focused on one or more "catalyst, high-priority" brownfields sites a specific project area, such as a neighborhood, downtown, business or arts district, a local commercial or industrial corridor, a community waterfront, one or more city blocks." EPA anticipates awarding 20 such grants of up to $200,000 each this year.

*        The National Endowment for the Arts has set September 12th as the deadline to apply for 2017 Our Town<https://www.arts.gov/grants-organizations/our-town/introduction> funding awards. The competition funds arts engagement, cultural planning, & design projects by non-profit organizations "that help to transform communities into lively, beautiful, and resilient places with the arts at their core" through "creative placemaking" that engages "artists, arts organizations, and community development practitioners" in deliberately integrating "arts and culture into community revitalization work." Among other things, Our Town grants do not fund the creation of new organizations, funding directly to individuals or the construction or acquisition of facilities. Our Town grants range from $25,000 to $200,000.

3.      Design Assistance: Just a reminder that we are offering free design assistance to communities in our Oregon Main Street Network. The main intent is to help with projects that you are considering for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, but other projects may qualify. Attached is additional info about the assistance and the application.

4.      Save the Date: Our fall workshop, "Building Revitalization: Formulating a Strategy," and Excellence in Downtown Revitalization Awards Banquet will be September 15-16 in Astoria. The focus of the workshop will be a comprehensive look at tackling building improvement projects. Learn everything from identifying building styles to putting together a business plan for a building improvement project. Taught by experts with the Preservation Program at Clatsop Community College and other invited speakers - this workshop will help you prepare property owners to apply for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant. We encourage you to invite property owners to attend the workshop with you! We will have more info soon on this unique opportunity!

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